How quickly does treated lumber weather? Here is a photo I took of a picnic table near our office on June 15, 2016 Here is the same table from a similar angle approximately nine months later. The lumber has… Read More
Category Archives: Wood
Help!! Anchor Straps
This doesn’t look right, does it? It’s not. The top two straps for the anchor connector for the top of the cast-in-place concrete basement wall were separated, bent flat against the top of the basement wall, wrapped around the sill… Read More
Separation of Wood Truss Plates in a Fire
When examining wood trusses for fire damage there is more to consider than charred members, excessive drying of the lumber, and the release of sap. Here’s a reminder to check the steel plates for separation or loosening. Disclaimer Read More
The Importance of Crawlspace Ventilation
The decay (and the foot step through the floor in the featured photo) seen here is characteristic of damage from prolonged exposure to excessive moisture. The severity of the decay indicates that the problem has been progressing over a period… Read More
Case Study: A Sagging Roof
The roof of this barn exhibits a sag (featured photo). The roof is framed with rafters (Figure 1). The rafter ties are set very high to allow clearance for interior activities; however, this prevents the ties from adequately restraining the… Read More
The Case of the Sinking Wood Deck
It was cold and rainy afternoon. And, while gazing at the rain sheeting down the window, I was ruminating on my plans for the coming weekend. My quite ruminations were interrupted by the loud, sudden ringing of my desk phone. It was a call… Read More
What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 13)
The feature photograph was taken in an attic during a warmer month of the year. It documents the condition on the underside of the roof deck. This photograph provides valuable information regarding the scope and history of airborne moisture in the attic. From… Read More
An Oversight Makes a Rafter More Susceptible to Fracture
In the featured photograph we see where the rafter fractured at its end. This fracture was due to vertical tension in the rafter. That is, the weight of the roof framing and the snow were pushing downward along the length… Read More